A Cessna aircraft crashed in the municipality of Tubajon, Dinagat Islands, on Wednesday afternoon, April 8, prompting an ongoing search and rescue operation for the two people on board.

According to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), several residents reported hearing a loud explosion shortly before the incident. Authorities were able to locate the crash site soon after and recovered debris believed to be parts of the aircraft.

In a Facebook post of Dinagat Islands' Provincial DRRM Council, initial findings indicate that the aircraft, identified as a Cessna with registry RP-C2444, went down in a rugged area in Barangay Navarro, Dinagat Islands. Due to the force of the impact, parts of the plane were reportedly buried in the soil.

Investigators said the aircraft had departed from Subic and was en route to Siargao at the time of the crash.

The wreckage was located at approximately 4:00 p.m. on April 8.

As of April 9, the two individuals on board remain missing. Authorities continue to conduct extensive search and rescue (SAR) operations across the difficult terrain.

The provincial DRRM Council said an Incident Management Team (IMT) has been deployed to the site to establish a unified command system and ensure proper coordination among responding agencies. The Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands also facilitated the deployment to strengthen operational efficiency and resource management.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation as clearing operations and further site assessments continue.